1. Home
2. › UFC News
3. › Arman Tsarukyan Says UFC Confirmed Title Fight Is Next After UFC 331 KO

Arman Tsarukyan says UFC officials told him before and after UFC 331 that he is next for a lightweight title fight, following his first-round knockout of Mauricio Ruffy in Los Angeles. Tsarukyan addressed his position during an interview on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” saying the message from the promotion did not change after he delivered the finish they wanted.

“Before the fight, they told me [I was next]. After the fight, they told me the same,” Tsarukyan said. “They were happy with my performance and they said, ‘We’re going to work on your title fight.'” The interview aired Monday, September 22, with Tsarukyan appearing just over two days after his UFC 331 win.

The 29-year-old lightweight contender stopped Ruffy with elbows at 4:56 of the opening round in the UFC 331 co-main event at Crypto.com Arena. Ruffy, who took the fight after Charles Oliveira was no longer available for the planned rematch, had success early and landed a right hand that left Tsarukyan with swelling under his eye. Tsarukyan stayed patient, worked to control the clinch, and turned the fight with a left elbow that knocked the Brazilian out near the horn. Referee Jason Herzog stepped in immediately after a follow-up elbow.

Arman Tsarukyan Is the Next UFC Title Contender

It was a timely statement from Tsarukyan, who entered the event needing a win after a long and occasionally chaotic road back to the front of the 155-pound queue. He withdrew from a scheduled title fight against Islam Makhachev one day before UFC 311 in January 2025 due to a back injury, then watched the division move on without him. His UFC 331 victory extended his win streak to six and moved his reported record to 24-4.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Arman Tsarukyan of Georgia prepares to face Mauricio Ruffy of Brazil in a lightweight fight during the UFC 331 event at Crypto.com Arena on September 19, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Tsarukyan’s post-fight callout had the usual mix of business and comedy. He said he needed a finish to prove his case, then joked: “Title fight or Mark Zuckerberg, I want to fight you next.” He also took aim at current lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, claiming Gaethje had avoided mentioning him and wanted Ruffy to win. Gaethje is not expected to compete again until 2027, though the UFC has yet to announce his next title defense.

The latest remarks suggest Tsarukyan believes he has done more than enough in the cage and outside it to remove any remaining doubt. He said UFC decision-makers were happy with the way he handled the week in Los Angeles, including the crowd response and his conduct around the event.

“This time I was a good boy,” Tsarukyan said. “I didn’t do something crazy. They liked how the crowd was there, how fight week went and everything. They can see I’m professional, and they can see that I can knock people out and perform very well.”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Arman Tsarukyan of Georgia punches Mauricio Ruffy of Brazil in a lightweight fight during the UFC 331 event at Crypto.com Arena on September 19, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Tsarukyan has had well-documented friction with the UFC in recent years, including a scuffle with a fan during his UFC 300 walkout, the late withdrawal from the Makhachev title bout, and an incident with Dan Hooker at a faceoff. UFC president Dana White said after UFC 331 that Tsarukyan had “completely flipped everything” since those mistakes and was in an excellent position after beating Ruffy.

The finish also gave Tsarukyan a performance that works for both sides. He was already viewed as a leading contender on merit, but he did not grind out a narrow decision against a dangerous replacement opponent. He absorbed an early shot, controlled the fight, and closed it with a knockout in front of a loud Los Angeles crowd. The UFC can now sell a title fight built on Tsarukyan’s six-fight streak, his wrestling threat, and a new edge as a finisher.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – AUGUST 14: Arman Tsarukyan of Georgia is interviewed backstage prior to the UFC 331 press conference at Xfinity Mobile Arena on August 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)